accusative and ergative languages

[Patrick C. Ryan]

Dear Fabrice and IEists:

 ----- Original Message -----
From: Fabrice Cavoto <fabcav at adr.dk>
Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 1999 1:21 AM

Fabrice writes:
> I think that what Patrick refers to is that many typologists mean that the
> evolution 'ergative to accusative' is more commoun than the reverse,
> without excluding it.

Pat responds:

That is, of course, very close to what I believe. But I would go an
unpalatal to some step further, and, agree with G. A. Klimov, that an
ergative form *must* precede an accusative type.

Thank you for your informative remarks.

<snip>

 Pat

PATRICK C. RYAN (501) 227-9947; FAX/DATA (501)312-9947 9115 W. 34th St.
Little Rock, AR 72204-4441 USA WEBPAGES:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/2803 and PROTO-RELIGION:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/2803/proto-religion/indexR.html "Veit
ek, at ek hekk, vindga meipi, nftr allar nmu, geiri undapr . . . a ~eim
meipi er mangi veit hvers hann af rstum renn." (Havamal 138)